NameCensus.

UK surname

Carlin

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "O Cairealláin," meaning "descendant of Caireallán" (a diminutive of "caireall," meaning quarrelsome).

In the 1881 census there were 1,521 people recorded with the Carlin surname, ranking it #2,761 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,598, ranked #1,888, up from #2,761 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Shirland, Eastwood and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ashfield, Parkhead West and Barrowfield and Kilsyth East and Croy.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carlin is 3,603 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 136.6%.

1881 census count

1,521

Ranked #2,761

Modern count

3,598

2016, ranked #1,888

Peak year

2014

3,603 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Carlin had 1,521 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,761 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,598 in 2016, ranked #1,888.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,833 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Carlin surname distribution map

The map shows where the Carlin surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Carlin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Carlin over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 661 #3,924
1861 historical 800 #3,432
1881 historical 1,521 #2,761
1891 historical 1,570 #2,828
1901 historical 1,833 #2,871
1911 historical 1,142 #4,088
1997 modern 3,177 #2,024
1998 modern 3,313 #2,018
1999 modern 3,308 #2,048
2000 modern 3,295 #2,043
2001 modern 3,250 #2,026
2002 modern 3,340 #2,023
2003 modern 3,317 #1,990
2004 modern 3,306 #1,997
2005 modern 3,312 #1,968
2006 modern 3,316 #1,973
2007 modern 3,368 #1,954
2008 modern 3,382 #1,967
2009 modern 3,487 #1,951
2010 modern 3,564 #1,950
2011 modern 3,530 #1,946
2012 modern 3,451 #1,956
2013 modern 3,555 #1,932
2014 modern 3,603 #1,909
2015 modern 3,591 #1,894
2016 modern 3,598 #1,888

Geography

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Where Carlins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Shirland, Eastwood, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ashfield, Parkhead West and Barrowfield, Kilsyth East and Croy, Amber Valley and County Durham. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Shirland Derbyshire
2 Eastwood Nottinghamshire
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Govan Combination Lanark
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ashfield 004 Ashfield
2 Parkhead West and Barrowfield Glasgow City
3 Kilsyth East and Croy North Lanarkshire
4 Amber Valley 012 Amber Valley
5 County Durham 010 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Carlin

These lists show first names that appear often with the Carlin surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Carlin

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Carlin, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Carlin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Carlin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Carlin is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Carlin is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Carlin falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Carlin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Carlin, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Carlin

The surname Carlin is of Irish and Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name "Caralan" or "Carlain", which is thought to be a diminutive form of the Old Norse name "Carl" or "Karlr". The name Carl was derived from the Germanic word "karl", meaning a free man or a husband.

The Carlin surname is believed to have originated in the 12th or 13th century in the Scottish Highlands and the northern counties of Ireland. It was particularly common in areas with strong Scottish or Norse influence, such as the Scottish Isles, the Western Isles, and parts of Ulster.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Carlin surname can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the late 13th century, where a person named "Gillecrist Carlyn" is mentioned. The name also appears in various Scottish and Irish records and manuscripts from the 14th and 15th centuries, with various spellings such as Carlyne, Carlyne, and Carlyn.

In the 16th century, the Carlin surname can be found in the records of the Scottish Clan Mackinnon, which had a strong presence in the Hebrides islands. One notable member of the clan was Lachlan Carlin Mackinnon, who was born in 1580 and served as a chief of the clan.

Another notable figure with the Carlin surname was John Carlin, an Irish Catholic priest and author who lived in the 17th century. He was born in County Monaghan in 1625 and wrote several religious works, including a book titled "The English Concordance of the Bible".

In the 18th century, the Carlin surname was carried to various parts of the world by Scottish and Irish emigrants. One notable bearer of the name was Thomas Carlin, an Irish-born soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War. He was born in County Armagh in 1752 and later settled in Pennsylvania.

The 19th century saw several notable individuals with the Carlin surname, including John Carlin, an Irish-born American politician who served as the 7th Governor of Illinois from 1838 to 1842. He was born in Westmeath, Ireland in 1786 and later emigrated to the United States.

Another notable figure was William Passmore Carlin, an American painter and artist who was born in Philadelphia in 1857. He is known for his landscape paintings and his work as an illustrator for various publications.

Overall, the Carlin surname has a rich history that can be traced back to the Scottish Highlands and the northern counties of Ireland, with roots in the Gaelic and Old Norse languages. It has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including clan chiefs, priests, soldiers, politicians, and artists.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Carlin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carlin surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 351 Carlins recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.31x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 351 7.31x
Lancashire 207 1.17x
Nottinghamshire 140 7.00x
Derbyshire 115 4.95x
Yorkshire 110 0.75x
Durham 92 2.08x
Renfrewshire 89 7.74x
Angus 68 4.94x
Middlesex 60 0.40x
Midlothian 56 2.82x
Ayrshire 36 3.24x
Staffordshire 31 0.62x
Northumberland 28 1.27x
Stirlingshire 23 4.20x
Cumberland 22 1.72x
West Lothian 17 7.60x
Cheshire 11 0.34x
Worcestershire 9 0.46x
Devon 7 0.23x
Surrey 7 0.10x
Kent 5 0.10x
Royal Navy 5 2.83x
Lincolnshire 4 0.17x
Shropshire 4 0.31x
Dunbartonshire 3 0.75x
East Lothian 3 1.53x
Perthshire 3 0.45x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.15x
Glamorgan 2 0.08x
Selkirkshire 2 1.49x
Sussex 2 0.08x
Wiltshire 2 0.15x
Buteshire 1 1.11x
Channel Islands 1 0.23x
Essex 1 0.03x
Hertfordshire 1 0.10x
Leicestershire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 79 Carlins recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.65x.

Place Total Index
Govan 79 6.65x
Barony 76 6.25x
Glasgow 76 8.91x
Liverpool 72 6.73x
Eastwood 58 324.20x
Shirland 43 247.27x
Bulwell 35 80.44x
Dundee 32 6.23x
Greasley 32 70.87x
Liff Benvie 30 14.37x
Abbey 22 12.53x
Maryhill 22 23.40x
Alfreton 21 29.74x
Newton In Makerfield 21 38.92x
Cambusnethan 18 16.88x
Kilmarnock 18 13.61x
Westoe 18 7.19x
Hamilton 16 11.95x
Bothwell 15 11.52x
Campsie 15 49.92x
Edinburgh Canongate 15 29.63x
Haslingden 15 20.56x
St Pancras London 15 1.26x
Kirkdale 14 4.72x
Sheffield 14 2.99x
Auckinleck 13 37.79x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 13 6.80x
Wingfield South 13 208.67x
Dalserf 12 25.05x
Eastwood 12 16.93x
Walsall Foreign 12 4.64x
West Greenock 12 5.81x
Holy Trinity 11 3.11x
New Monkland 11 7.75x
Rutherglen 11 15.62x
Stoke Upon Trent 11 2.07x
Claylane 10 30.95x
Hackney London 10 1.20x
Hessle In Sculcoates 10 76.98x
Whittington 10 31.09x
Wigan 10 4.06x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 9 1.12x
Kidderminster Borough 9 7.93x
Preston 9 1.91x
Stansfield 9 16.62x
Thornaby 9 16.37x
Habergham Eaves 8 4.97x
Longbenton 8 8.55x
Old Monkland 8 4.20x
Benfieldside 7 24.10x
Cathcart 7 11.25x
Haswell 7 22.11x
Heanor 7 20.14x
Linthorpe 7 7.97x
Manchester 7 0.88x
Oldham 7 1.23x
Paisley High Church 7 7.64x
Stockton On Tees 7 3.29x
Tunstall 7 31.83x
Bathgate 6 12.36x
Boness 6 19.47x
Dalziel 6 11.61x
Edinburgh Tron Church 6 64.38x
Kensington London 6 0.73x
Knutsford Nether 6 30.29x
Middlesbrough 6 3.13x
Monkhill 6 1935.48x
Paisley Middle Church 6 8.96x
Renfrew 6 15.79x
Sculcoates 6 2.57x
St Luke London 6 2.52x
St Mary 6 61.04x
Westgate 6 4.39x
Workington 6 8.20x
Berwick Upon Tweed 5 10.68x
Birkenhead 5 1.91x
Littleover 5 126.90x
Middle Greenock 5 15.92x
Salford 5 0.97x
Spotland 5 2.55x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Carlin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 81
Elizabeth 30
Ann 27
Catherine 23
Ellen 22
Sarah 22
Jane 20
Margaret 16
Eliza 13
Alice 10
Annie 10
Hannah 10
Bridget 8
Emma 7
Agnes 6
Ada 5
Emily 4
Esther 4
Lucy 4
Maria 4
Catharine 3
Fanny 3
Frances 3
Harriett 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Lydia 3
Martha 3
Rose 3
Susan 3
Caroline 2
Elizth. 2
Ella 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
Isabella 2
Julia 2
Maggie 2
Minnie 2
Susannah 2
Amy 1
E. 1
Edith 1
Eleaner 1
Eleanor 1
Elizebth 1
Elizth 1
Henritta 1
Honey 1
Winnover 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Carlin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 65
William 45
Thomas 39
James 28
Patrick 19
George 16
Joseph 14
Peter 13
Arthur 12
Henry 12
Michael 12
Charles 11
Robert 11
Francis 9
Alfred 8
Edward 8
Bernard 6
Samuel 6
Hugh 5
Isaac 5
Abraham 4
Daniel 4
Dennis 3
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Matthew 3
Thos. 3
Wm. 3
Albert 2
Benjamin 2
Christopher 2
Edwin 2
Enoch 2
Frederic 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Lewis 2
Mark 2
Paterick 2
Ralph 2
Richard 2
Walter 2
Willm. 2
Andrew 1
Cornelius 1
Friend 1
Geo. 1
Geo.W.L. 1
Larance 1
Lawrence 1

FAQ

Carlin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Carlin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,521 people were recorded with the Carlin surname. That placed it at #2,761 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Carlin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,598 in 2016. That gives Carlin a modern rank of #1,888.

What does the Carlin surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "O Cairealláin," meaning "descendant of Caireallán" (a diminutive of "caireall," meaning quarrelsome).

What does the Carlin map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Carlin bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.